Changes

''"What we have seen is something which has no place in a constitutional democracy,"'' Merkel said on August 28 in Berlin, during a joint news conference alongside Croatian Prime Minister [[Andrej Plenkovic]]. That same day, the German Foreign Minister [[Heiko Maas]] said that the anti-immigration protests were ''"intolerable."''

''"What we have seen is something which has no place in a constitutional democracy,"'' Merkel said on August 28 in Berlin, during a joint news conference alongside Croatian Prime Minister [[Andrej Plenkovic]]. That same day, the German Foreign Minister [[Heiko Maas]] said that the anti-immigration protests were ''"intolerable."''

On August 30, when Saxony’s state premier, [[Michael Kretschmer]], arrived in the city for a meeting with locals, he was booed and jeered. ''"Locals feel they are being treated unfairly"'', he said afterwards in reference to the billions diverted from welfare budgets to spend on housing and subsistence costs for about 1.3 million Muslim migrants who have arrived in Germany since 2015.<ref>[http://deutchnews.de/2018/09/01/chemnitz-disturbances-disclose-new-german-migration-fault-line/Chemnitz disturbances disclose new German migration fault line ]</ref>

On August 30, when Saxony's state premier, [[Michael Kretschmer]], arrived in the city for a meeting with locals, he was booed and jeered. ''"Locals feel they are being treated unfairly"'', he said afterwards in reference to the billions diverted from welfare budgets to spend on housing and subsistence costs for about 1.3 million Muslim migrants who have arrived in Germany since 2015.<ref>[http://deutchnews.de/2018/09/01/chemnitz-disturbances-disclose-new-german-migration-fault-line/Chemnitz disturbances disclose new German migration fault line ]</ref>

==Continued protests==

==Continued protests==

His widow told Bild that Mr. Hillig would not have wanted the protests. ''"Daniel was neither left nor right,"'' she said. ''"I looked at the events on Saturday night – this was not about Daniel at all."''

His widow told Bild that Mr. Hillig would not have wanted the protests. ''"Daniel was neither left nor right,"'' she said. ''"I looked at the events on Saturday night – this was not about Daniel at all."''

A makeshift shrine on the pavement where Daniel was stabbed has become a focal point for the city’s grief — and anger. Thousands of patriotic Germans staged a "mourning march" for people killed by migrants.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (September 2, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/02/pictures-protesters-stage-mourning-march-in-chemnitz-for-victims-of-killer-migrants/ PICTURES: Protesters Stage ‘Mourning March’ in Chemnitz for Victims of Killer Migrants]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref>

A makeshift shrine on the pavement where Daniel was stabbed has become a focal point for the city's grief — and anger. Thousands of patriotic Germans staged a "mourning march" for people killed by migrants.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (September 2, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/02/pictures-protesters-stage-mourning-march-in-chemnitz-for-victims-of-killer-migrants/ PICTURES: Protesters Stage ‘Mourning March’ in Chemnitz for Victims of Killer Migrants]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref>

Family Minister [[Franziska Giffey]] laid flowers at the scene of the crime in Chemnitz on Friday 31 August, the first member of Merkel’s cabinet to visit.<ref>[https://www.thelocal.de/20180831/german-family-minister-lays-flowers-in-chemnitz  Families Minister becomes first government official to visit site of Chemnitz stabbing]</ref>

Family Minister [[Franziska Giffey]] laid flowers at the scene of the crime in Chemnitz on Friday 31 August, the first member of Merkel's cabinet to visit.<ref>[https://www.thelocal.de/20180831/german-family-minister-lays-flowers-in-chemnitz  Families Minister becomes first government official to visit site of Chemnitz stabbing]</ref>

==Arrests==

==Arrests==

On September 3, certain German authorities said they were stepping up surveillance of the conservative Alternative for Germany amid calls by the [[liberal]] German [[establishment]] to do so.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (September 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/04/german-establishment-call-domestic-intelligence-spy-populists-chemnitz-protests/ German Establishment Call for Domestic Intelligence to Spy on Populists Following Chemnitz Protests]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Andreas Kalbitz, a member of the party's national leadership, accused the German political parties of panicking in the face of AfD's electoral success.

On September 3, certain German authorities said they were stepping up surveillance of the conservative Alternative for Germany amid calls by the [[liberal]] German [[establishment]] to do so.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (September 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/04/german-establishment-call-domestic-intelligence-spy-populists-chemnitz-protests/ German Establishment Call for Domestic Intelligence to Spy on Populists Following Chemnitz Protests]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Andreas Kalbitz, a member of the party's national leadership, accused the German political parties of panicking in the face of AfD's electoral success.

In the first week of September, the President of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, [[Hans-Georg Maassen]], openly expressed doubts about [[Mainstream media]] reports that right-wing extremists were chasing down non-Germans during demonstrations in Chemnitz. ''"I share the skepticism towards media reports of right-wing extremists chasing down [foreigners] in Chemnitz,"'' the German Bild tabloid reported on Friday September 7.<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/chemnitz-violence-no-evidence-far-right-chased-foreigners-says-intelligence-chief/a-45391328  Chemnitz violence: 'No evidence' far-right chased foreigners, says intelligence chief]</ref><ref>Hale, Virginia (September 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/08/chemnitz-evidence-anti-migrant-attacks/ Chemnitz: Intelligence Chief Says ‘No Evidence’ Anti-Migrant Attack Video Is Authentic]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Shortly afterward, the leftist [[SPD]] demanded his dismissal<ref>Mischke, Judith (September 13, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/hans-georg-maasen-germany-spd-demands-dismissal-of-top-security-official/ Germany’s SPD demands dismissal of top security official]. ''Politico''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> while Interior Minister [[Horst Seehofer]] voiced confidence in Maassen’s leadership and claimed he does not “see any reason for staff changes.”<ref name="anderson">Anderson, Emma (September 18, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/german-domestic-intelligence-chief-hans-georg-maassen-removed-from-post/ German domestic intelligence chief removed from post]. ''Politico''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> As a result, Merkel's government fired him for not taking the [[establishment]]arian stance toward the protests and toward the AfD.<ref>Nasr, Joseph (September 18, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-protests-spy/germany-ousts-spymaster-over-far-right-violence-row-idUSKCN1LY2G5 Germany ousts spymaster over far-right violence row]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved September 18, 2018.</ref> However Interior Minister [[Horst Seehofer]] managed to immediately promote Maassen as state secretary in the interior ministry.<ref name="anderson" />

In the first week of September, the President of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, [[Hans-Georg Maassen]], openly expressed doubts about [[Mainstream media]] reports that right-wing extremists were chasing down non-Germans during demonstrations in Chemnitz. ''"I share the skepticism towards media reports of right-wing extremists chasing down [foreigners] in Chemnitz,"'' the German Bild tabloid reported on Friday September 7.<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/chemnitz-violence-no-evidence-far-right-chased-foreigners-says-intelligence-chief/a-45391328  Chemnitz violence: 'No evidence' far-right chased foreigners, says intelligence chief]</ref><ref>Hale, Virginia (September 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/08/chemnitz-evidence-anti-migrant-attacks/ Chemnitz: Intelligence Chief Says ‘No Evidence’ Anti-Migrant Attack Video Is Authentic]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 8, 2018.</ref> Shortly afterward, the leftist [[SPD]] demanded his dismissal<ref>Mischke, Judith (September 13, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/hans-georg-maasen-germany-spd-demands-dismissal-of-top-security-official/ Germany’s SPD demands dismissal of top security official]. ''Politico''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> while Interior Minister [[Horst Seehofer]] voiced confidence in Maassen's leadership and claimed he does not “see any reason for staff changes.”<ref name="anderson">Anderson, Emma (September 18, 2018). [https://www.politico.eu/article/german-domestic-intelligence-chief-hans-georg-maassen-removed-from-post/ German domestic intelligence chief removed from post]. ''Politico''. Retrieved September 23, 2018.</ref> As a result, Merkel's government fired him for not taking the [[establishment]]arian stance toward the protests and toward the AfD.<ref>Nasr, Joseph (September 18, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-protests-spy/germany-ousts-spymaster-over-far-right-violence-row-idUSKCN1LY2G5 Germany ousts spymaster over far-right violence row]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved September 18, 2018.</ref> However Interior Minister [[Horst Seehofer]] managed to immediately promote Maassen as state secretary in the interior ministry.<ref name="anderson" />

Many residents of Chemnitz were angry about being called Nazis for engaging in peaceful protests over the lack of law enforcement and the government's immigration policies, or for simply reporting crimes committed by migrants in general.<ref>https://youtu.be/SRkFsAP-h8Q</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/5faJlhu5dmY</ref>

Many residents of Chemnitz were angry about being called Nazis for engaging in peaceful protests over the lack of law enforcement and the government's immigration policies, or for simply reporting crimes committed by migrants in general.<ref>https://youtu.be/SRkFsAP-h8Q</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/5faJlhu5dmY</ref>